What happens to the existing charities?

The Trustees of the central Masonic Charities have agreed the proposal to launch the Masonic Charitable Foundation.

Each of the Charities will continue to operate as normal until April 2016. After this time, the Masonic Charitable Foundation will begin to award all grants previously provided by the central Masonic Charities.

Most Festival Appeals that are due to conclude before or during 2021 will continue to fundraise for one of the central Masonic Charities. All Festival appeals concluding in 2022 onwards will raise funds for the Foundation.

What does this mean for –

The Freemasons’ Grand Charity –

The Masonic Charitable Foundation will continue to award grants to Freemasons and their families in need, continuing the work of the Freemasons’ Grand Charity. The Foundation will also award significant grants to other charities and non-masonic causes.

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution –

The RMBI will continue to operate its care services under its existing name, with the Masonic Charitable Foundation providing eligible Freemasons and their family members with assistance to access the care that they need.

The Masonic Samaritan Fund –

The Masonic Charitable Foundation will provide the full range of grants to meet health and care needs. The Foundation will also award grants to support vital medical research into a wide range of illnesses and disabilities.

The Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys –

The Masonic Charitable Foundation’s range of grants will continue to help the children and grandchildren of Freemasons who are experiencing distress caused by financial hardship. A range of wider help for young people will also continue, as will grants to support children’s charities.

The Masonic Fishing Charity

“The Masonic Fishing Charity’s aim is to bring an interactive fishing and countryside experience to people with Special Needs”.

It achieves this by running fishing events, both coarse and fly, at various fisheries and inviting participants from special needs schools and centres and people who have suffered trauma to come and join in.